Episode Details

Cuban son, under the label "rumba," became incredibly popular following the success of "El manicero" in 1930, including in the two Congos (at the time colonized by Belgium and France). Congolese musicians heard echoes of their own traditional music and began creating a new genre (Congolese rumba) largely based on son, mambo and cha cha cha and sung in a mix of Spanish, French and Lingala.  French historian Charlotte Grabli joins Rebecca to talk about the bi-directional musical exchanges between Cuba and the two Congos.

Songs played:
El manicero, Don Azpiazu & His Havan Casino Orchestra
Marie Tchebo, Manuel D'Oliveira & Georges Edouard
El que siembra su maiz, Trio Matamoros
El que siembra su maiz, Joseph Kabasele & African Jazz
Independence Cha Cha, Joseph Kabasele & African Jazz
Cha Cha Cha del Zombo, Brazzos & O.K. Jazz
Mwanga, Franklin Boukaka
Muanga, Orquesta Aragón

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Intro and outro music: "Bengo Latino," Jimmy Fontanez/Media Right Productions